Danny Ward was recently recalled by Liverpool following a successful spell north of the border

Never has the end reward been so substantial. Unlike any other past season for Wales' current group of hopefuls, the carrot dangling on the end of the proverbial stick come this summer is a potential place in the Red Dragons' set-up for Euro 2016.

Manager Chris Coleman will already have a rough idea of how he plans to set out his team for each of the three group games, of course, but still certain places throughout the side remain up for grabs. Just a few months now remain before the provisional 30-man squad - which will later be reduced to 23 members - must be named by Coleman, meaning that these next few weeks in particular could have a huge say in who makes the short trip across the Channel.

For the likes of Ashley Williams, Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, the task is simple – get through the campaign unscathed and take up what is surely an automatic spot in the finals squad. For others, such as Wayne Hennessey, for example, hitting form at the right time will be key in the closing weeks of the term.

Hennessey in particular has allowed his standards to drop of late, with high-profile errors against Aston Villa and Manchester City in successive Premier League matchdays seeing his position as Crystal Palace's first-choice stopper come under real scrutiny.

​Thankfully for the well-established Wales No.1, club manager Alan Pardew retained the faith and selected him in the side that pushed Tottenham Hotspur all the way last weekend, in which a number of fine stops were made across the 90 minutes.

While Hennessey faces little competition between the sticks at international level, knowing that Liverpool ace Danny Ward and squad ever-present Owain Fon Williams both have an awful lot to do to usurp him between now and June, for others the matter is not quite so simple.

In that same fixture at Selhurst Park last weekend, Ben Davies watched on from the bench for the full 90 minutes, despite Danny Rose being given a torrid time of it by silky winger Wilfried Zaha.That particular battle at Spurs is one to keep a close eye on, with Davies one of those aforementioned players whose place in the starting XI to face Slovakia in a little over four months' time is still up for contention.

A recent poll run by the London Evening Standard, asking supporters of the North London outfit who they would select at left-back, ended in a near stalemate. Davies pipped his 'rival' by a couple of per cent in the end, but Mauricio Pochettino is effectively the only person whose opinion counts.

It would be silly to suggest that Davies should seek a loan move away, particularly when taking into account that he has featured 17 times for the title-chasing Lilywhites in all competitions this season, but for others the decision on whether to stick or twist may not be quite as clear cut.

James Chester and Paul Dummett are two of many who find themselves in an awkward predicament with the days ticking down until the transfer window closes. Chester, in particular, has made it clear to Tony Pulis that he sees his future – temporarily, at least – away from the Midlands club.

Chester has earned eight caps for Wales, being given the nod by Coleman as his first-choice to partner skipper Williams in the heart of defence for the opening three games of the successful qualifying campaign. Then, as is so often the case when things begin to look up for a player, injury cruelly struck.

It was then a case of watching on and biding his time as far as the West Brom man was concerned, but having been given another chance to impress against Andorra and the Netherlands last time out in Cardiff, Coleman could well turn to Chester regardless of his fortunes at club level.

James Chester is another Wales hopeful whose club future remains up in the air

Should the 27-year-old be overlooked, then James Collins is the man best placed to fill in at centre-back. Experience should not be played down at a major tournament, and in the West Ham United stalwart Wales certainly have a player who has seen it all down the years.The five-at-the-back formation opens doors for defensive players to come in, too, with Chris Gunter and Neil Taylor blossoming in their wing-back roles during the recent campaign. Both are playing regularly for Reading and Swansea City respectively and, any injuries aside, you can surely expect the duo to be given the nod in France.

Matters appear to be fairly straightforward further forward, as well, inasmuch that Joe Ledley, Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale can all clear their diaries for a few weeks this summer. There are no guarantees in football, of course, but in the case of the latter two, the team will very much be built around their respective qualities.

That leaves Hal Robson-Kanu - one of the real poster boys of the Euro 2016 qualification campaign - Sam Vokes, and even outside bets Tom Lawrence, George Williams and Simon Church for a place in the side to face Slovakia.

Rotation will no doubt prove to be key, meaning a variation of tactics deployed across the three group games which will all vary in terms of difficultylevels. It must be remembered that this is an unprecedented situation for the Wales national team – none of these players, or indeed coaching staff, have experience of tournament football at this level.

With that in mind, and to bring this ramble full circle, would certain players better their chances by seeking pastures new over the coming days, or indeed take a loan option route in due course?In the case of Ward, recently recalled from a loan spell at Aberdeen by parent club Liverpool, his time between now and the summer will likely be spent watching on from the bench. Not great for his short-term development, granted, but that certainly opens up opportunities in the long term at a well-respected club.

Chris Coleman has been brilliant since I’ve been here which is nice, and if I’m fit I’ve got a really good chance of playing so it’s up to me to go back to West Brom and play but I’m finding it difficult - James Chester, speaking in November, on his West Brom troubles.

Sticking with the Merseyside giants, Allen appears to have finally taken the next step in his career thanks to the guidance of eccentric German boss Jurgen Klopp - or maybe there really is something magical about the new Andrea Pirlo-inspired look(!)

Either way, Allen will no doubt ignore talk of a short-term return to former club Swansea City and instead bide his time at Anfield. Only time will tell whether that is the correct choice and, certainly in any other season, that would be a wise decision to make.

Yet with attention already turning towards the Euro finals, this is a chance for many to reflect on how they see things going on a personal level – such as Ledley, who like central midfield partner Allen, has had to make do with more of a bit-part role at Palace since joining the club. ​It is a case for many Wales hopefuls, as touched upon, but the decision on whether to gamble on a move elsewhere prior to Monday night's transfer deadline could be the difference between a place in Welsh football history, or instead watching on from the stands next summer and wondering what might have been.